In the center of Utrecht, a six-minute walk from Central Station, Aldi Nord is rehearsing the technical revolution. Next door, the water of the Oudegracht ripples, which, with its quays far below street level, gives Utrecht its very own image. Around the corner is Neude-Platz with the magnificent library from the 1920s, once the main post office, perhaps the most beautiful in the country. So there is a good chance that German tourists will also stroll by here. On a corner of the Oudegracht, the discounter is coming up with something new: high-tech. This is how technology fans will see it. With a surveillance monster, privacy concerns might say.
Because on Wednesday the newest Aldi branch in the Netherlands opens here. She will be cashless; Cameras and sensors make it possible to put the goods in the bag, register them automatically and check out of the store without further ado. The system could also be used in Germany: “We want to see how customers accept it. It cannot be ruled out, but it is not automatically given either,” said Sinanudin Omerhodzic, Head of Technology Purchasing, at a presentation to the FAZ.
